Wisconsin’s Famous Joe “Unser Choe” Hauser Set Baseball Home Run Records

by Max Moreno, age 12

Joe Hauser was born and raised in Wisconsin and played baseball against legendary players, such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. Babe Ruth was known as the home-run king in the major leagues. However, things were different for Hauser, who excelled in the minor leagues.

Hauser started his minor league career in 1918. He played on the same team that Babe Ruth started on when he was in the minors. Hauser played in the highest level of the minor leagues in Milwaukee, and earned the name “Unser Choe" since fans would chant “das ist unser choe,’’ which in German translates to “this is our Joe.” Hauser would then go on to play in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics for five seasons. In 1924, Hauser played his best season in the major leagues, with 27 home runs second only to Ruth.

His success in the major leagues was cut short in April 1925 when he snapped his right kneecap, which needed surgery. At the time, surgeons used silver wire to mend his kneecap back together. In 1929, he went back to the minors and played for the Baltimore Orioles International minor league team. He hit 63 home runs and was the first professional player to hit 60 or more home runs in a season. Despite the injuries, he proved himself in 1933. While playing for the Minneapolis Millers he hit 69 home runs and remained the only player to hit 60 or more twice in his career until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa did so in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

Hauser then managed the Sheboygan Indians minor league team in the 1940s and 1950s and lived with his family in Sheboygan until his retirement. He then ran a sports shop until 1984. He sadly passed away on July 11, 1997. Joe Hauser will be remembered as an exceptional baseball player who was a beloved figure to many interested in the sport.

[Sources: Sheboygan Press; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Sheboygan County Historical Society]